Festive inauguration of the monastery church of St. Pius X – a religious jewel!

Festive inauguration of the monastery church of St. Pius X – a religious jewel!

The monastery church of St. Pius X in Neustift is undoubtedly the heart of the community. The foundation stone was laid in 1954 and the ceremonial inauguration took place just two years later, in 1956. Since then, the church has shone in its original state, with only redesigns in 1999/2000. The impressive tabernacle, which is designed in the form of a round disc and thus symbolizes the Eucharist, is particularly eye-catching. This central point inside the church magnetically attracts believers and invites them to worship in silence.

But what makes this tabernacle so special? It is not just a simple shrine; the upper surface is decorated with artistic ears of wheat, which symbolize bread. A large, original stained glass window behind the tabernacle reinforces the symbolism of the Eucharist. Here on the left side there are ears of grain, which represent bread, while the right side is decorated with grapes, the symbol for wine. Above all the sun, which represents Christ, shines as the sun of life and light in the darkness. In addition, other symbols such as the pelican, the lamb and the bronze serpent expand this awe-inspiring representation.

Eucharistic Adoration: A Deep-Rooted Custom

An essential part of the believing community is Eucharistic adoration. This form of prayer within the Roman Catholic Church focuses on the Blessed Sacrament, the consecrated host, which is solemnly offered during Holy Mass. The highlights of this devotion are the sacramental blessing and exposition of the host, in which a priest, deacon, or acolyte places the host in a monstrance or ciborium and makes it available for veneration in an elevated place, often on the altar. The faithful venerate the Blessed Sacrament through prayers and silent devotion - a touching practice that has continued for centuries.

A special form of this worship is the forty-hour prayer, in which the Blessed Sacrament is exposed over a period of 40 hours. But nighttime worship hours, which are often held in monasteries, also help to strengthen faith. This form of worship became popular in the Baroque period and has since found a place in the tradition of many communities.

Symbolism and meaning

The connection between Eucharistic adoration and the Holy Mass is particularly emphasized in Vatican II. It is not permitted to expose the Blessed Sacrament solely for the purpose of blessing, and no Holy Mass may take place in the same room during the exposure. These regulations demonstrate the seriousness and reverence given to Eucharistic adoration. Pope John Paul II also declared 2005 the Year of the Eucharist, which raised awareness of this form of worship worldwide.

The monastery church of St. Pius Bistum Passau and Wikipedia offer a deeper insight into the history and meaning of the Eucharist and invite you to take a closer look at this central content of the faith.